When It Comes To Your Eyes, Make It Home Safe Home

Main Category: Eye Health / Blindness
Article Date: 05 Jul 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Home remains the likeliest place to suffer an eye injury, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT). The annual Eye Injury Snapshot, a clinical survey of eye injuries across the U.S., conducted from May 17 to May 24 this year, found that nearly half (47.6 percent) of the 2.5 million eye injuries that Americans suffer annually now happen in and around the home in common places like the lawn, garden, kitchen or garage.

"Many people still believe that they are most at risk of an eye injury in the workplace, when in fact they face the greatest danger in their home doing household projects like home repair and yard work," said David W. Parke II, MD, CEO and executive vice president of the Academy. "Unfortunately, all too often the victims of these injuries are children. Ninety percent of the injuries could be prevented simply by wearing protective eyewear."

In an effort to combat the rate of household eye injuries, the Academy and ASOT recommend that every household in America have at least one pair of ANSI-approved* protective eyewear to be worn when doing projects and activities at home to safeguard against eye injuries.

This was the sixth year that data was collected for the Eye Injury Snapshot. Among the key findings:

- Three-quarters of those injured were male.
- The number of eye injuries suffered by children increased from previous surveys: Children 12 years of age or younger represented one in five injuries, well above the previous five year survey average of 15.5 percent.
- The yard and garden were the place people were most likely to suffer an injury in the home.
- More than 45 percent of injuries occur between noon and 6 p.m.

To help promote awareness of eye protection, the Academy's EyeSmart™ campaign also released new public service announcements featuring Norm Abram, master carpenter of the PBS series This Old House and host of The New Yankee Workshop. For three decades, Mr. Abram has promoted the importance of eye safety while doing home projects.

"We're pleased to partner with Norm Abram on this important message," said Dr. Parke. "His commitment to protective eye wear has earned him the respect of ophthalmologists and makes him the ideal spokesperson for eye safety."

To view the public service announcement, visit http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/injuries/abram.cfm. Learn more about eye injuries, names of Eye M.D.s in your area or ask an Eye M.D. a question by visiting http://www.GetEyeSmart.org.

* ANSI-approved protective eyewear is manufactured to meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) eye protection standard. ANSI-approved protective eyewear can be easily purchased from most hardware stores nationwide and can be identified by the mark "Z87" placed on the eye wear. ANSI-approved protective eyewear is not approved for use in sports. To locate appropriate eyewear for specific sports talk to your ophthalmologist or visit http://www.geteyessmart.org.

Source
American Academy of Ophthalmology